which gun

[hollowpointt]

Started shooting trap and plan on skeet and sporting clays when I get a little better at it. The range owner has made his suggestions, and they are as follows.

Berretta 391, Benelli, Browning Gold
28 or 30 inch barrels

The prices are close enough that it does not become an issue. What suggestion and opionions are out there? Have tried o/u's but do not care for increased recoil and increased price.

Thanks in advance

 

[kudu]

391 is a very good choice as a lot of trap and sporting clays shooters are going that direction. Down side of autos is that you have to pick up shells that are tossed all over if you reload, and some ranges encourage shooters to pick up discarded hulls for housekeeping purposes.
I would prefer the 30" barrels for all the games, but if hunting is one of the purposes that the gun is for 28" may be better or an additional barrel further down the road.

 

[HSMITH]

Drop the Benelli from the list and add the SuperX2 and you have the top 3 shotguns on the market. Quality of the 3 seems to be equal. The X2 has a higher rib and costs $150 or so less than the other two, balance and movement is nearly identical to the Gold (both move like a quality O/U). The X2 is already becoming legendary for reliability. The 391 is a little more trim in the stock and forearm. It too moves VERY well. The Beretta autos I have had and the ones I have been around typically need a break-in period of 500 rounds or so before they settle out to a long reliable life. The Gold is a darn nice shotgun too, the autoload feature is the only real feature that it has over the X2. Reliability reports are generally pretty darn good, both that I have run well.

If the X2 feels good in your hands and looks good under your eye it is a far better buy. If you prefer a lower rib the Gold is there for you to try. The 391 is an outstanding shotgun, if it fits you better than the others buy it as I don't think you can buy a better shotgun.

I dislike the Benelli after I have owned and shot one extensively. I just don't think it belongs in the same category as the other three. Recoil is much more like a fixed breech gun, and reliability with shotshells other than typical field or handicap types is much less than a gas gun. It does make a decent field gun.

 

[TrapperReady]

I'm going to disagree with HSMITH about the Benelli. (no big surprise)

I own two, a Montefeltro 12ga and an M1 Field 20ga. I've had both for several years, and shot thousands upon thousands of shells through them. I've had no problems at all.

My wife shoots the Montefeltro in trap league and for almost everything else, and experiences no problems with recoil (mostly using 1 1/8 oz Remington light target loads -- or similar reloads).

I also own some pump-guns, a Browning 425 O/U and a Beretta 391 Urika Sporting. I can tell very little difference between the Beretta and the Montefeltro with regards to recoil. The 391 may be a little softer, but it's not by much. Both are noticably softer shooting than the pumps, and much better than the O/U.

As far as build quality goes, I certainly think Benelli is in the same league as Beretta and Browning. The Winchester X2s I've handled have been a little rougher in the finish department, although I know several people who swear by them in the field and for sporting clays.

FWIW, I tried some very light 7/8 oz loads in the Montefeltro this past weekend, and did not experience any failures. Admittedly, this was in a very clean gun, and only a box of shells. I'm planning on doing some more extensive testing over the next few months to see about reliability with those loads.

I have seen a Benelli have problems with target loads, but it was one of the Super Black Eagles, using 1 1/8oz loads pushing about 1180 fps. Even then, it would function OK most of the time.

Personally, I'm shooting the 391 for almost all clay games these days. I've got a 30" barrel on it and am using 3/4" extended choke tubes. It works extremely well for me.

My best advice would be to try and shoot whatever you can prior to buying. It may be difficult and require some expenditure of time (and perhaps some grovelling), but it can probably be done. Every gun has a little different fit, function and "personality". Everything you mentioned is good, and it will be worth it to find the one that's BEST for you.